Hydraulic motor



April 13 1926. I

J. E. BURDEN HYDRAUL'IC MOTOR 5 Shuts-Shae 1 Filed Janv 21. 1924 mvzurof JAMES, 004? aokoglv 7 1 urromvsvs 1 a April 13 W26.

. J. E.-BORDEN I HYDRAULIC mo'roa Filed Jan. 21, 1924 s 5heets-8het 2 INVENTQR JAMES EDGA R BURDEN MW M 97 A TTORNE Y5 April 13 W26 1,580,807 J. E. BORDEN HYDRAULIC MOTOR- Filed Jan. 21, 1924 s sheets-sheet s I. mvziwon JAMES EDGAR BORDEN ATTORN EYS April 13 1926;

J. E. BORDEIN HYDRAULIC mo ron Filed Jan. 21. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 MN I INVENTOR JAMES EDGAI? BURDEN fl//// M ATTORNEYS Aprfl 13,1926.

. J. E. BURDEN 1580 807 HYDRAULI G MOTOR Filed Jan. 21' 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNI/ENTGR JAMES EDGAR BURDEN ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES EDGAR BORDEN, OF PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

HYDRAULIC MOTOR.

Application filed January 21, 1924. Serial No. 687,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES EDGAR BORDEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing for obtaining power from the tides such as is disclosed and claimed in my application for patent Serial No. 519,911 filed December 5, 1921, for hydraulic prime mover, the present application covering subject matter divided from the former application, together with certain improvements thereon.

. One of the objects of this invention is to produce a construction in which the submergence of vanes subjected to pressure from the-water is constant for all tide levels and wherein the flow of water is continuous withput substantial change of direction through the mechanism avoiding trapping the water between the vanes and the pro-' duction of local eddies and back pressures.

In this construction also the vanes efiectually seal off the water space where theyenter and leave the same. 1

Other features of novelty relate to the manner of mounting'the vanes with relation to a pair of parallel spaced eccentrically mounted'shroud wheels and the connections by which the motion of the vanes is transmitted to power shafts by which electric generators .or other suitable mechanism may be driven.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, together with other objects and advantageous details and combinations of parts, reference may be hadv to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan of the central impeller portion of the mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the'entire 7 unit on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the penstocks and related parts.

Figure 4 is a detail section on line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on a larger scale along line 55 of Figure 2.

Figur 6 is fragmentary side elevation of the same partly broken away. t

Figure 7 is a plan of the inner face of a vane end plate. 7 r

Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the vane and wheel connections. r I

Figure 9 is a fragmentary outside elevation of a vane.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal. section showing the mounting for one of the shroud Wheels. r

Figure 11 is a perspective of a vane partly completed. V

Figure 12 is a perspective of a stiffener member. I

Figure 13 is a perspective of a roof member forthe fluid channel.

Referring particularly to'Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 at and 21 areindicated a pair of shroud wheels which are mounted to rotate in parallel planes but eccentrically. These wheels are journaled on cantilever bearing bosses 22 and 24 extending toward each other at the upper end of pedestals 23 and 25. The bearings 22 and 24- are out of hori zontal alinement, the bearing22 being considerably above the bearing 24. The adjacent faces of each shroud wheel are closed in by plates 26 and 27 and in alinement with their lower ends are channel side plates 28 cut out to receive them. These plates define the side of a channel or conduit through which water is supplied to the mechanismas will later be describec. The particular mountings'of the wheels on their bearings are shown in detail in Figure 10, the mounting ofthe wheel 20 being there indicated. This wheel 20" has a central hub 30 within which is carried a double annular-track 331 for supporting a double circular series of rollers 32 bearing on the outer "faces of a pair of sleeves 330'carried by the cantilever support 22 and retained in position lengthwise thereof by fianged collars 332 and 333 at opposite ends thereof and a central ring spacer 31 positioned between the wheel side plates 26 and 260.. The hub memberj'30 is connected to a rim 34 of the wheel 20 by means of a series of spokes 35'of structural shapes such as angles or channels which i I are fixed to spaced annular flanges 301 pros jecting from the periphery of the hub: 30'. These spokes 35 extend back to back from the hub for a short distance and then are bent to form oppositely disposed spaced facing parallel pairs which may be tied together by wires 351 (see Figure 6). The two sets of spokes extending from the flanges 301 may also be tied together by wires 352. At the outer ends of the spokes are segmental pieces 341, the series of such pieces supporting a continuous wheel r1111 34. Segmental plates 342 and 343 are arranged in staggered relation adjacent opposite faces of the wheels as shown best in Figure 6 and are fixed to the edge flange on the pieces 341. Tie pieces 346 to which the wheel side plates 26 and 260 are fixed and gusset plates 353may also be employed,this

construction forming a light but rigid wheel.

The lightness and rigidity is of great importance in a structure designed to utilize large volumes of water at low head, since the units must be relatively large for the production of comparatively small power. The wheel 21 is constructed similarly to the wheel 20 and is mounted on the cantilever support 24 in the same manner as the wheel 20 is mounted on the support 22.

The shroud wheels carry between them a series of vanes 40, one of which is shown partly assembled in Figure 11. These vanes form the impeller elements which take the thrust imparted by the flow of water through the channel. Each vane comprises a pair of generally elliptical shaped end plates 401 and 402 having opposed inwardly extending flanges 403 adjacent their margins to which flanges may be fixed an enclosing casing member 404. This member may be formed of a continuous plate of a width to lie between the plates 401 and 402 outwardly of the flanges 403 and of sufficient length to extend therearo-und, or it may if desired be formed of separate pieces as of wood arranged in series about the circumferences of the plates, the joints between these strips being preferably calked so as to render the completed vane watertight.

One end of each plate 401, 402 has extending toward the other plate a sleeve 405 of comparatively small diameter and a similar sleeve 406 of larger diameter is arranged substantially parallel thereto adjacent the opposite end of each plate, these parts being so disposed that the sleeve 405 of one plate is in axial alinement with the sleeve 406 of the other. These sleeves are for the purpose of fixing the vanes between the shroud wheels in a manner shown best in Figure 8. Referring to this figure it will be seen that cylindrical bearing sleeves 431 extend laterally of each shroud wheel adjacent the inner face of the rim 34, these bearing sleeves, as shown in Figure 6, extending between the parallel pairs of spoke elements and between adjacent segmental plates 341. Adjacent opposite ends of the bearing sleeve 431 are retaining collars 432 between which are positioned outer annular members 433 of roller raeeways. The adjacent ends of these roller raeeways are all spaced apart by annular members 434 and 435, the member 435 having a portion of enlarged internal diameter within which rides an annular rib 436 of a collar 437 fixed to the outer face of a. hollow shaft 42. The ribs or collars 436 spaced about theperipheries of each wheel act as anchors for the cross ties formed by the vanes to tie the peripheries of the shroud Wheels together. At either side of this member 437 are fixed the inner track members 421 of the roller bearings, rollers 444 being positioned between these members and the outer members 433. The shaft 42, therefore, is rotatable relative to the sleeve 431 and this shaft is designed to carry one end of an impeller vane. For this purpose a shaft 411 is shrunk or otherwise fixed within the end of the shaft 42 and extends through a vane side plate and within the larger sleeve 406, at one end of one of the vanes. lVithin this member 411 is slidable a shaft 41 which may be tubular, this shaft 41 being also slidable within the sleeve 405 in axial alinement with the sleeve 406.

For the purpose of facilitating assembly of the parts, the sleeve 41 may be fixed Within the shaft 411 and the sleeve 405 by tapered pins such as 410 and 412, these parts being assembled before the outer cover 402 of the vane is placed in position. One end of the vane is thus pivotally supported from ad-' jacent the rim of one of the shroud wheels, and the other end of the vane is similarly supported from a point adjacent the rim of the other shroud wheel, the various vanes being so related as to be maintained in parallel relation throughout the entire path of rotation of the shroud wheels. If desired the outer end of the shafts 42 in the shroud wheels may be covered over by separate plates 272 (see Figure 6), these separate plates rendering it easier to obtain access to these bearings when desired and to place the supporting members for the impeller vanes in position.

The rim 34 of each of the shroud wheels is adapted to carry thereon rack sections 50 which together form a peripheral gear face to each of these wheels. The Wheels are mounted to rotate in unison and to insure such rotation idler gears 102 and 103 are carried by shafts 53, these idlers meshing in turn with the rack sections and pinions 51 on equalizing shafts 52, there being an equalizing shaft at each of substantially diametrically opposite points horizontally of the impeller mechanism. Not only do these equalizer shafts hold the shroud wheels for synchronous rotation, but they may also be employed to transmit driving elfort from the shroud Wheels to driven machinery as will later be described. By the use of the idler pinions 103 shafts 52 are positioned outside of the path ofthe vanes, and so may be continuous between the two shroudwheels and insure synchronous rotation thereof.

Beside the channel side plates 26 and 27 above mentioned the conduit for directing the water to and from the vanes is constructed as follows. Outwardly of the shroud wheel 20 is a vertical plate 202 (see Figure 5) connected by a plate 201 with the upper edge of the adjacent plate 28 which is cut away to pass partially about the periphery of this shroud wheel. The plate 201 is curved to conform to this cut away portion and passes partially about the periphery of the shroud wheel and forms with the plate 202 a housing forthe lower portion thereof in which it may rotate. Similarly a vertical plate 212 is positioned outwardly of the wheel 21, this plate extending to the floor plate 106 of the conduit, a portionof which extending outwardly beyond the adjacent side plate 27 curved about the periphery of the wheel in the same manner as the plate 201 about the wheel 20. The top wall of the conduit may be formed by a downwardly curved plate 1.01 fixed to opposed inwardly directed flanges611 of a pair of substantially segmental shaped plates 60 and 61 positioned between the shroudwheels andsupported therefrom as will be described. The plate 101 may be a single integralp-late or it may be formed of sections to the covering for the vanes. Its outer ends are extended above the water level in the channel and form the inner walls of openings through which the vanes enter and leave the water channel as will presently be described. The water conduit is covered in beyond the shroud wheels and the vanes by plates 100 having at their inner ends upwardly extending curved flanges 105 which form the outer walls of the entrance andexit openings through which into and out of the conduit.

The conduit defining members as thus described are carried by a float comprising longitudinal and transverse structural beams such as 5, the whole mechanism being so proportioned that it is adapted to float partially submerged in a body of water, the water extending substantially to the level of the cover plates 100. This float supports the pedestals 23 and 25 above mentioned and in order that they may be held against sagging from the weight of the moving parts carried by their cantilever extensions,

the vanes pass these pedestals and extensions may be tied together by means including the segmental plates 60 and 61 and the central channel cover 101. For this purpose the cantilever extensions may be formed hollow and each be reinforced by means of a sleeve 221 (see Figure 10). Within this sleeve are a pair of spaced sleeve sections 58 and 59 through and beneath the wheel being as of wood similar 'driven by which is passed a non-rotatable shaft or' 56. The inner end of the upper shaft 55- extends through a perforation 600 in the plate 60, througha perforated boss 610 extending inwardly therefrom and into a similar hoss 610 projecting inwardly from the plate 61 where it terminates. The lower non-rotatable shaft, designated by the numeral 56, extends through the plate 61 and through a boss 612 extending inwardly therefrom and into a boss 613 on the inner face of the plate 60, but it does not pass through this plate. To further stiffen the construction between the plates 60 and 61 there has been indicated a pair of plates 62 and 63 shown detached in Figure 12, each being formed adjacent each end with an outwardly bent portion. 620 and 630 so formed that one of the portions 620 and the mating portion 630 of the. other plate surround one of the shafts 55 and 56. Each of these plates may be formed with an outwardly extending longitudinal stiffening flange 622 and the portions 610, 61 2 and 613 may he joined by tie wires passing through suitable openings inthe plates 62 and63.

these tie wires serving to truss these mem bers together to form a substantially rigid but light construction as shown in Fig. 5. The stationary shafts 55 and 56 may be extended outwardly from the pedestals 23 and 25 to support electric generators as shown at 66, the rotating members of which are gearing of any suitable description such as chain belting'from one of the equalizing shafts 52, and these shafts-may be anchored in pedestals 500 outwardly of the generators. It is obvious that the assembly of the generator may be such as to suit any hollow hub' rotor, i. e., the rotor may conform to general practice for alternating current construction, embodying a field rotatable within an armature ring, this ring either being rigid with one of the shafts 55 or 56 toaddits weight to the stabilizing of the unit, or if'desired having its own separate foundation. Several generators if desired'may be mounted on each shaft 55 and '56 to be cut in or out individually according to the load demand. This provides a more flexible construction than if the generators were directly carried by the equalizing shafts, since it allows them to be cut in or out of service as desired which would not be the case if they were forced to turn with the equalizing shaft. It will thus be seen that the float is provided with stiffener means 5 at right angles to each other, that the mechanism is stiffened transversely by the shafts 55 and56 and their connections between the shroud wheels, and also by the equalizing shafts 52.

In Figures 3 and 4 are shown details of the penstock by which the Water is delivered to and from the impeller mechanism. As

these penstocks are similarly constructed a description of one will be suflicient to give an understanding of the other. As shown the canal entrance to the penstock here indicated at teri'ninates in a plate 71 suitably supported in the side wall of the channel 9. The canal entrances 7O communicate with suitable fixed conduits in the walls of the channel through which water is led to or from tidei'vater, basins or any other desired reservoirs. As here indicated this channel wall is composed of masonry and the plate 71 is seated in a recess therein. This plate has a substantially cylindrical socket 72 therein, the axis of the cylinder extending horizontally. The p'enstock 7 is formed at its inner end with a pair of circular side wall portions 73 and 74. substantially fitting this cylindrical recess and curved up per and lower walls 75 and 7 6 partially closing the space therebetween. Positioned at the axis of each wall 73 and 74: is an outwardly extending pivot member 77 and 78, which may, if desired, be formed integral with a plate 79 and 80. Each pivot 77 and. 78 may be held journaled in the lower end of a bar 81, 82 which is curved thereunder and which extends upwardly along the inner face of the channel side where it may be supported by means of an upper plate 88 having ears 8 L extending therefrom for this purpose and from cars. 85 extending outwardly from the plate 71. By this means an up and down motion of the outer end of the penstock is permitted Without interrupting communication for the'water from the channel 70 therethrough. The side walls 7 3 and 74 are inclined inwardly and terminate in a narrowed nozzle portion 86, while the walls 75 and 76 time outwardly so that the nozzle portion 86 is of considerable height thus preserving the cross sectional area of flow. This nozzle portion rides within the end of the channel formed by the plate 28 before mentioned and the inner faces of the shroud wheels whose plates 26 and 27 define the conduit for the flow of water against the vanes 40 by the resulting motion of which power is obtained and on its upper and lower walls are segmental pieces 750 and 760 in rocking contact with the plates 100 and 100. As the float raises and lowers it is evident that the penstocks are carried therewith, their lower edges riding on the surface thereof. Beads 88 projecting from the plates 7 3 and 7 1 and bearing within the open end of the conduit permit a limited relative lateral rocking movement thereof.

In order to support-the float in proper relation to these penstocks, in Figures 2 and 3 are indicated arms 90 and 91 extending from the side walls of the channel 9 and having at their inner ends guide sleeves 92 and 93 for the slid'able reception of posts 94 and 95 extending upwardly from the floating unit. As many of these guides may be provided as is deemed necessary to insure a vertical motion of the float.

It will be noted more particularly in Fig ures 2 and 6 that the vanes are ellipsoidal and the upper face of the water channel is bridged by end plates and the intermediate plate 101. These plates are so formed as to define entrance and exit passages of substantial length through which the vanes pass into and out of the channel. The side walls of these passages are formed by the upwardly curved portions of the end plates 100 and the downwardly bowed formation of plates 101. The central portion of the bottom plate 106 is also downwardly bowed so as to conform closely to the path described by the lower end of the vanes. These parts are so proportioned that the entrance and exit passages for the vanes are substantially sealed at all times by the vane or vanes passing therethrough for example, in Figure 2 a vane a seals the inlet passage, it being centrally disposed therein and approaching closely the portions 101 and 105 at opposite sides, while the vane Z) substantially closes the outlet passage, approaching the plate 101 at its upper end and the plate 105 at its lower end. Any vane or vanes substantially midway of the entrance and exit openings bridge the space between the plate 101 and the central curved portions of the base plate 106 which is of suflicient length to insure at least one vane being adjacent to it at all times and substantially close off the cross sectional area for the flow of water through the conduit to receive full pressure therefrom. By this construction the vanes enter and leave the water current without causing substantial disturbance or with the formation of eddies or back pressures, and the inlet and exit openings are effectually sealed against material leakage.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism of the class described comprising a float having a conduit extending below the level of water in which said float is placed, a pair of fixed conduits, a pair of closed submerged penstocks flexibly connecting said floating conduit with said fixed conduits, and an impeller mechanism actuated by a flow of water through said conduits.

2. A mechanism of the class described comprising a float having a conduit below the level of Water in which said float is placed, penstocks having pivotal connection with each end of said conduit, the intermediate portion of said conduit having a pair of spaced passages extending outwardly therefrom, and a series of impeller vanes mounted to pass successively into and out of said conduit through said passages, said vanes substantially closing said conduit between said openings and substantially lilling said pa sages as they pass therethrough.

3. A mechanism of the class described comprising a conduit having a pair of spaced passages opening laterally thereof, a series of vanes movable bodily in a closed path into and out of said conduit through said passages, said conduit and vanes being so relatively shaped as to substantially close off said passages as the vanes pass therethrough, and to substantially fill the cross sectional area of said conduit between said passages. '4. A mechanism of the class described comprising a conduit having a pair of spaced passages opening laterally thereof, a series of vanes mounted to move bodily in a closed path into and out of said conduit through said passages, the long axes of said vanes being maintained substantially perpendicular to the axis of said conduit, said vanes, conduit and passages being so relatively shaped that said vanes substantially seal said passages as they pass thercthrough, and substantially close said conduit intermediate said passages. v

5. A mechanism of the class described comprising a conduit having a pair of lateral passages extending therefrom spaced longitudinally thereof, a series of ellipsoidal vanes constrained to move into and out of said conduit through said passages, while their major axes are held substantially perpendicular to the axis of said conduit, said vanes and passages being so disposed as to substantially seal said passages against leakage at all times, and said conduit intermediate said passages being formed to be sealed by one or more vanes passing therethrough.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of eccentrically arranged wheels spaced apart in parallel planes, a pair of pedestals positioned outwardly of said wheels, a hollow boss extending inwardly of each pedestal and on which said wheels are journaled, vanes pivotally connected at opposite ends to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, and stiffening members extending through said hollow bosses and joined together between said wheels.

7. In a device of the class described, a pair of eccentrically arranged wheels spaced apart in parallel planes, a pair of pedestals positioned outwardly of said wheels, a hollow boss extending inwardly of each pedestal and on which said whels are journaled, vanes pivotally connected at opposite ends to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, a shaft extending through each hollow boss and pedestal and bearing within said pedes tals, anchoring means for the ends of said shafts outwardly of said pedestals, and means connecting said shafts between said bosses. I M

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of-eccentrically arranged wheels spaced apart in parallel planes, a pair of pedestals positioned outwardy of said wheels, a hollow boss extending inwardly of each pedestal and on which said wheels are journaled,

vanes pivotally connected at opposite ends to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, a

positioned outwardly of said wheels, a hollow boss extending inwardly of each pedestal and on which said wheels are journaled, vanes pivotally connected at opposite ends to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, a cantilever shaft extending through each hollow boss and pedestaland hearing within said pedestal, anchoring means for the ends of said shafts outwardly of said pedestals, means connecting said shafts between said bosses, shafts geared to both wheels to insure synchronous rotation thereof, generators carried on said cantilever shafts, and driving connections to said generators from said equalizing shafts.

10. In a device of the class described, a float, a pair of eccentrically arranged wheels spaced apart in vertical planes on said float, vanes extending between said wheels and pivoted at opposite sides to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, stiffening members on said float arranged longitudinally and transversely of members wheels.

11. In a device of the class described, a float, a pair of eccentrically arranged wheels spaced apart in vertical planes on said float, vanes extending between said wheels and pivoted at opposite sides to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, stilfening members on said float arranged longitudinally and transversely of said wheels, and stiffener members each engaging the peripheries of both wheels. I

12. In a device of the class described, a float, a pair of eccentrically arranged wheels passing through the axes of said spaced apart in vertical planes on said float,

vanes extending between said wheels and pivoted at opposite sides to said wheels adjacent their peripheries, stiffening members on said float arranged longitudinally and transversely of said wheels, stiffener members passing through the axes of said wheels,

said wheels, and stiffener.

and stiffening members each engaging the the other of said channel, and an impelling peripheries of both wheels. mechanism carried. by said float and actuated 13. A mechanism of the class described by flow of Water through said conduit. comprising a float having a closed conduit 15. A mechanism of the class described below the level of water in which said float comprising a channel, a float in said channel is placed, a pair of fixed conduits, a pair of and having a conduit below the level of closed submerged penstocks flexibly connectwater in said channel, means for guiding ing said floating conduit with saidfixed consaid float to rise and fall wlth changes of duits and of substantially the cross sectional water level in said channel, closed submerged area of said floating conduit, and an impenstocks pivotally connected to said float peller mechanism actuated bya flow of Water and the Walls of said channel and directing through said conduits. water through said conduit from one side to 14. A mechanism of the class described the other of said channel, and an impelling comprising a channel member, a float in said mechanism carried by said float and actuated channel and having a conduit below the level by flow of water through said conduit.

of Water in said channel, closed submerged In testin'iony whereof I have afiixed my penstocks pivotally connected to said float signature.

and the walls of said channel and directing water through said conduit from one side to JAMES E. BURDEN. 

